American University School of International Service

What could possible death of supreme leader mean for Iran? A professor explains News4's Mauricio Casillas sits down with American University Professor Garret Martin to break down what to know about the strikes on Iran.

SIS prof. and co-director of @aueuropecenter.bsky.social Garret Martin joined @nbcwashington.com to discuss the death of Iran’s supreme leader & potential impacts. https://www.nbcwashington.com/video/news/local/what-could-possible-death-of-supreme-leader-mean-for-iran-a-professor-explains/4068343/

Source: CIA working to arm Kurds to spark uprising in Iran | CNN Yerevan Saeed, Director of the Global Kurdish for Peace at American University, speaks to Becky Anderson about the role Kurdish groups could play after the U.S. president promoted regime change in Ira...

Director and @ausis.bsky.social Barzani Scholar @yerevansaeed.bsky.social appeared on @cnn.com to discuss the role Kurdish groups could play after the U.S. president’s call for regime change in Iran. www.cnn.com/2026/03/04/w...

#AUGivingDay is here! This year, when 50 donors give to SIS, we will unlock a $50,000 gift thanks to the generosity of Charlotte Jones-Carroll, SIS/BA ’67. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference! https://www.givecampus.com/s/3rpg7f

In a historic vote, Tennessee Volkswagen workers get their first union contract Two years ago, the successful union drive at this plant was expected to spark victories throughout the South. But now, as members vote to make their contract official, momentum has fizzled.

SIS professor Stephen Silvia shares insight in a recent @npr.org article on the significance of the union contract between #Volkswagen and the @uaw.org
Read more:
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/19/nx-s1-5711458/union-uaw-volkswagen-tennessee-contract-vote

Last chance! Join us tomorrow at @ausis.bsky.social to examine the new political and security dynamics for Syrian Kurds with Aliza Marcus, Dlshad Othman, Sirwan Kajjo, and @yerevansaeed.bsky.social. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-future...

The hidden costs of the EPA's new climate change policy This week, the EPA revoked what’s called the “endangerment finding,” which found that fossil fuel emissions can endanger human health. The agency says the U.S. will save money, but there are other cos...

Director of @au-cece.bsky.social @fisherdanar.bsky.social recently spoke to @marketplace.org about the EPA revoking the endangerment finding, which identified greenhouse gases as a threat to public health. https://www.marketplace.org/story/2026/02/13/the-cost-of-ending-epa-fossil-fuel-regulation

Happening today!

@au-spa.bsky.social @ausis.bsky.social

Racial Capitalism: From the Transatlantic Slave Trade to Today SIS professor Jordana Matlon explores the relationship between race and capitalism.

This #BlackHistoryMonth SIS professor Jordanna Matlon joined us in a Q&A analyzing the evolution of racial capitalism and its role in persisting inequalities today.

Read more:
https://bit.ly/4bNOm78

Finding Love at SIS: How Global Education Shaped a Life Together SIS alumni Julia and Paul Hodum share how they met and fell in love on AU's campus.

This Valentine’s Day, SIS alumni Paul and Julia Hodum share how they found love while pursuing a global education.

Read their full story: https://bit.ly/4ab2G8u

Episode 88: The Intellectuals Behind the MAGA New Right In this new episode, SIS visiting scholar in residence Laura Field joins Big World to discuss the intellectual backbone of the New Right.

In this new episode of Big World, SIS visiting scholar @lkatfield.bsky.social joins us to discuss the intellectual backbone of the New Right and her recent book, “Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right.” Listen now! https://bit.ly/3Zwa20b

Building Democracy in the Arab World: An Insider Perspective from Tunisia Farsi Lectures in Islamic Peace

Friends in DC: The former Prime Minister of #Tunisia, Youssef Chahed, will be speaking at American University on Monday. Register here for an interesting conversation on building democracy in the Arab world:

@au-spa.bsky.social @ausis.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.com/e/building-d...

Netanyahu heads to Washington to lobby amid 'very good' US talks with Iran The Israeli prime minister has tried to scuttle US-Iran diplomacy for decades

Professor @zivguy.bsky.social spoke to Middle East Eye about what to expect during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with President Trump this week. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/netanyahu-heads-washington-lobby-amid-very-good-us-talks-iran

Join us at @ausis.bsky.social for "The Future of Kurds in Syria" to examine the new political and security dynamics for Syrian Kurds with Aliza Marcus, Dlshad Othman, Sirwan Kajjo, and @yerevansaeed.bsky.social. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-future...

SIS Professor Gregory Aftandilian recently shared his insight on President Trump’s Board of Peace and concerns for the future of the Gaza peace process in the Wyoming Star.

Read the full article: https://wyomingstarnews.org/2026/01/29/exclusive-trumps-board-of-peace-what-awaits-gaza/

Photo of the School of International Service. Text says, "Master's Priority Application Deadline Extended. Apply by March 15 for guaranteed full consideration for fall 2026 admission and scholarships."

Interested in studying at a top-10 school of international affairs? There is still time to apply to master’s degree programs at the School of International Service! The fall priority application deadline for all master’s degree applicants is extended to March 15. Apply today: https://bit.ly/4rp2qZb

Trump’s Greenland threats reveals no-win dilemma at the heart of European security strategy European publics and more government leaders are questioning the value of the alliance with the United States under Trump. But a different path remains elusive.

🚨 New publication by Co-Director Garret Martin on 🇪🇺's response and dilemmas in regard to Greenland. 👇

theconversation.com/trumps-green...

@sisresearch.bsky.social @ausis.bsky.social

Inside the movement challenging—and disrupting—ICE A non-violent network of activists is forming across America

SIS professor @fisherdanar.bsky.social is featured in a recent @economist.com article, using her data to shed light on Minneapolis activists challenging ICE.

https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/01/29/inside-the-movement-challenging-and-disrupting-ice

By ending its partnership with Syria's Kurds, the West risks reviving the ISIS crisis | The National The haste with which the US and others have ended their military support to the SDF could destabilise the region

In a new piece for @thenationalnews.com, @ausis.bsky.social Barzani Scholar @yerevansaeed.bsky.social highlights the risks of prisons and camps of ISIS members falling under Damascus's control as the U.S. ends its support of the Syrian Democratic Forces.
www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comm...

ICE Immigration Tactics Shock Americans as Border Operations Move North SIS professor Nicholas Micinski and co-author Kelsey Norman examine how recent shifts in immigration enforcement are impacting public perception of deportation tactics.

In a new piece published by @us.theconversation.com, SIS professor Nicholas Micinski and @bakerinstitute.bsky.social fellow Kelsey Norman discuss how deportation tactics in the interior US may be shifting political attitudes on immigration. https://bit.ly/49VBhFV

Ambassadors Up-Close: Spotlight on Spain, Portugal and 40 Years in EU SIS Founders Room

🚨 Delighted to announce that on Feb 12, we will be welcoming 🇪🇸 Ambassador Ángeles Moreno Bau and 🇵🇹 Ambssador Francisco Lopes for a wide ranging conversation on 🇪🇺🇺🇸 relations! To join 👇

www.eventbrite.com/e/ambassador...

@michelleegan.bsky.social @ausis.bsky.social @euintheus.bsky.social

"We will be ungovernable": Resistance 2.0 pivots to disruption "Our folks want to do more than just mass mobilization," one organizer said.

@fisherdanar.bsky.social, director of @au-cece.bsky.social, spoke to @axios.com about the future of resistance under the second Trump administration and the results of a survey asking protestors about political violence. https://www.axios.com/2026/01/19/trump-administration-protests-resistance

Barzani Peace Fellowship Reach Historic Milestone at American University Barzani Peace Fellowship Reach Historic Milestone at American University

Check out Kurdistan Chronicle's piece on the Barzani Peace Fellowship reaching a milestone of supporting 10 graduate students studying at @ausis.bsky.social. The Fellowship supports students passionate about Kurdish affairs.
kurdistanchronicle.com/babat/4415

Obedience, Ambiguity, and Punishment: The Chinese Military at Tiananmen Revisited As this article goes to press, security officials in Iran are carefully weighing their options on how to dole out violence to preserve an authoritarian

In light of recently released video of the trial of Chinese general Xu Qinxian, Prof. @josephtorigian.bsky.social revisits the events of Tiananmen Square for @warontherocks.bsky.social

https://warontherocks.com/2026/01/obedience-ambiguity-and-punishment-the-chinese-military-at-tiananmen-revisited/

The Global Kurdish Initiative for Peace is pleased to welcome three new Barzani Peace Fellows: Susan Zibari, Aheen Hajibadri, and Prsha Othman. The Barzani Peace Fellowship has reached a historical milestone at @ausis.bsky.social, sponsoring 10 graduate students from diverse backgrounds.

After one year of Trump, is anything left of the American Climate Corps? The federal program shut down before Biden left office, but a handful of state efforts are carrying on — with a lower profile.

A new article from @grist.org features research from @au-cece.bsky.social on the American Climate Corps, a federal program that was wound down last January. Learn more and read comments from @fisherdanar.bsky.social ⬇️ https://grist.org/labor/trump-left-american-climate-corps-california-washington/

New Year, New TikTok? SIS professor and Director of Research at the Center for Security, Innovation, and New Technology William Akoto discusses the future of TikTok operations in the United States.

Under a new framework deal between the US and China, a consortium of US investors is slated to oversee US operations of TikTok starting this year. In this new Q&A, SIS professor @willakoto.bsky.social breaks down what this will mean for TikTok users in the US. https://bit.ly/3YDP1Qz

After one year of Trump, is anything left of the American Climate Corps? The federal program shut down before Biden left office, but a handful of state efforts are carrying on — with a lower profile.

Our work at @au-cece.bsky.social is included in this piece about the American Climate Corps @grist.org “You can cancel the Climate Corps, but … a lot of what communities need right now has to do with responding to and preparing for climate change-exacerbated extreme events” grist.org/labor/trump-...

Iraq's pathway to stability relies on transfers of power The key question is not whether Sudani is like al-Maliki but whether a second term would reduce competition and weaken institutions.

In a new article for @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social, SIS scholar @yerevansaeed.bsky.social discusses Iraq’s political future, examining why transfers of power are critical to long-term stability.
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/iraqs-pathway-to-stability-relies-on-transfers-of-power/

🥳New paper to kick-off the semester! I introduce an “Intelligence-Driven Strategic Competition” framework to explain when cyber espionage becomes real strategic competition. If you work on cyber conflict, coercion or state power, this may be of interest:
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/AZFSI...

Two Superpowers, One Playbook: Why Chinese and US Bureaucrats Think and Act Alike 2025 has not been a great year for US-China relations, but the officials who shape the governmental work aren't all that different.

In a new piece published by @theconversation.com, SIS professor Daniel Esser and co-authors discuss the similarities between bureaucrats in China and the US. https://bit.ly/4saRgIQ